Exercise apparatus

ABSTRACT

A portable exercise apparatus having at least one removable, horizontal user gripping bar for supporting at least portion of the force generated by a user during exercise; a vertical frame capable of supporting at least portion of the force generated by a user during exercise that includes a free-standing vertical rear support frame and at least one pair of vertical side support frames pivotally attached to the rear support frame; and at least one user support base having opposing sides and opposing ends and capable of supporting at least portion of the force generated by a user during exercise. Each user gripping bar is removably attached to each of the pairs of vertical side support frames; and the opposing sides of the user base being removably attached to each of the pairs of vertical side support frames. One end of each user base abuts the vertical rear support frame.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to exercise apparatus, and particularly toportable exercise apparatus.

Heretofore, ballet bars have been used in performing exercises. However,such ballet bars are usually wall-mounted so that they are not portable.Nor are they adjustable for the height of the user or the needs of aparticular exercise.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The portable exercise apparatus of the present invention comprises:

-   -   a. at least one removable, horizontal user gripping bar for        supporting at least portion of the force generated by a user        during exercise;    -   b. a vertical frame capable of supporting at least portion of        the force generated by a user during exercise comprising        -   i. a free-standing vertical rear support frame and        -   ii. at least one pair of vertical side support frames            pivotally attached to said rear support frame; and    -   c. at least one user support base having opposing sides and        opposing ends and capable of supporting at least a portion of        the force generated by a user during exercise,    -   each user gripping bar being removably attached to each of said        pairs vertical side support frames; and        said opposing sides of said user base being removably attached        to each of said pairs of vertical side support frames and one        end of each user base abutting said vertical rear support frame.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front elevation view of the apparatus of the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a front elevation view, in front perspective, of the backsheet and the top user support member of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a front elevation view, in front perspective, of the usergripping bar of the apparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a front elevation view, in front perspective, of the usersupport base of the apparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary side elevation view, in section, of the edge ofthe user support base of the apparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a side elevation view of one of the side support frames of theapparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a side elevation view of an alternative embodiment of theapparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a side elevation view of another alternative embodiment of theapparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a front elevation view of an alternative embodiment of a backsheet of the apparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a side elevation view, partially in section, illustrating auser performing a first exercise with the apparatus of the presentinvention;

FIG. 11 is a side elevation view, partially in section, illustrating auser performing a second exercise with the apparatus of the presentinvention; and

FIG. 12 is a side elevation view, partially in section, illustrating auser performing a third exercise with the apparatus of the presentinvention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Generally, and as shown in FIGS. 1-7 and 8-12 for illustrative purposes,the portable exercise apparatus 1 of the present invention comprises:

-   -   a. at least one removable, horizontal user gripping bar 2 for        supporting at least portion of the force generated by a user        during exercise;    -   b. a vertical frame 4 capable of supporting at least portion of        the force generated by a user during exercise comprising        -   i. a free-standing vertical rear support frame 10 and        -   ii. at least one pair of vertical side support frames (30            and 32 or 34 and 36) pivotally attached to said rear support            frame 10; and    -   c. at least one user support base 6 having opposing sides and        opposing ends and capable of supporting at least a portion of        the force generated by a user during exercise,    -   each user gripping bar 2 being removably attached to each of        said pairs of vertical side support frames; and        said opposing sides of said user base 6 being removably attached        to each of said pairs of vertical side support frames and one        end of each user base 6 abutting said vertical rear support        frame 10.

The apparatus 1 may further comprise the user gripping bar 2 beingvertically adjustable at a plurality of discrete vertical positions.Preferably, the apparatus 1 is freestanding and stowable. Optionally,the apparatus 1 may be provided with one or more pairs of stabilizinglegs 8. This invention also contemplates an apparatus 1 in which asecond pair of vertical support frames 34 and 36 is mounted on the rearof the free-standing vertical rear support frame 10 and a second supportbase 7 is provided for attachment to that second pair of verticalsupport frames 34 and 36 as will be described later.

The horizontal gripping bar 2 acts as a horizontally oriented supportagainst the application of force by the user. That force may be appliedto the bar 2 by the user's actions along force vectors normal to thelongitudinal central axis of the bar and toward or away from the bar,including, for example, force applied vertically upward normal to thelongitudinal central axis of the bar, vertically downward normal to thelongitudinal central axis of the bar, laterally forward normal to thelongitudinal central axis of the bar, and laterally backward normal tothe longitudinal central axis of the bar. Also, the force can be appliedat an angle other than a normal. The bar 2 comprises a cylinder with adiameter smaller than the apertures 38, 40, and 42 in the side supportframes 30 and 32 and a length longer than the maximum transversedistance between the side support frames 30 and 32 so that the height ofthe bar 2 from the base 6 can be adjusted by sliding the bar 2 out ofone set of apertures, such as 38, moving it to another, such as 40, andthen sliding it into the other set of apertures 40. While the bar 2 ispreferably cylindrical in cross-section, it might be of anothercross-section, such as polygonal if desired.

The vertical support assembly 4 comprises a freestanding vertical rearsupport frame 10 and a pair of vertical side support frames 30 and 32hinged to the front side edges 12 of the freestanding rear support frame10 so that the side support frames 30 and 32 can be folded toward, andpreferably into the rear support frame 10 for portability and stowage.The hinges (not shown) define a vertical axis about which the sidesupport frames rotate in opening into the operative position of theapparatus 1 and in closing into the folded position. These vertical axesof rotation are parallel to each other and, preferably, positionedwithin the peripheral outline of the freestanding rear support frame 10.In conjunction with the bar 2 and the base 6, the vertical supportassembly 4 acts as a force containment cage so that the force or forcesgenerated by the user can be at least borne by the apparatus 1, andpreferably contained within the apparatus 1.

The free-standing rear support frame 10 comprises a rectangular backsheet 12 held in position by a top user support member 14. Therectangular back sheet 12 extends vertically from proximity to thebottom of the apparatus 1 to abutment to the bottom of the top member 14so that the user can be supported at any point of their anatomy that maybe at a height sufficient to contact the freestanding rear support frame10. This is illustrated in FIGS. 10 and 11 in which in FIG. 10 a user Uperforms a first exercise using the apparatus 1 in which the user makescontact with the back sheet to a certain height and then in FIG. 11 theuser U performs a second exercise using the apparatus 1 in which theuser makes contact with the back sheet to a different height, therebyillustrating the need for the aforesaid extension of the back sheetvertically from proximity to the bottom of the apparatus 1 to abutmentto the bottom of the top member. The rectangular back sheet 12 alsoprevents racking and the top user support member 14 stiffen the backsheet 10 against flexing. If desired and as illustrated in FIG. 9, analternative embodiment of the back sheet structure may be provided inwhich the back sheet 12 may be provided with side support members 16 and18 and bottom member 20, as well as the top support member 14. In thisembodiment, each of the side frame members 16 and 18 is provided withhinges for its associated vertical side support frame 30 or 32 to pivoton.

Each of the side support frames 30 or 34 comprises a foot member 44, apair of horizontally spaced apart, parallel vertical support members 46and 48, a horizontal top member 50 and at least one horizontal bracemember 52 and is mirror image symmetrical with respect to the otherframe of the pair. The front vertical support 48 of the side support 30or 32 frame is provided with a plurality of horizontally extendingadjustment apertures 38, 40, and 42 so that the vertical height of theuser gripping bar 2 can be adjusted in accordance with the height of theuser or the requirements of the exercise the user is performing. Thehorizontal top member 50 and the horizontal brace members 52 provideadditional and supplemental user support. The horizontal brace members52 also provide handle function. The foot member 44 extends forward ofthe front vertical 48 support to give the apparatus 1 stability againsttipping forward. Alternatively, the side support frames 30 and 32 maycomprise a rectangular sheet or or panel with the plurality of apertures38, 40, and 42.

The user support base 6 comprises a rectangular sheet that holds the twovertical side support frames 30 and 32 in position when they are intheir operative open position. The opposed, lateral side edges 6 a (FIG.5) are provided with channels 6 b to effect attachment between thesupport base 6 and the foot members 44 of the two vertical side supportframes 30 and 32. When installed between the two feet 44 of the verticalframes 30 and 32, the base 6 extends forward of the front end of thefeet members. The length of the support base 6 is advantageouslyextended to a distance wherein a user may stand with the front extremityof the foot adjacent or in abutting contact with the front edge of thebase 6. This is illustrated in FIG. 12 in which a user U performs athird exercise in which the tip of the user's foot abuts the front edgeof the support base 6. Optionally, a support base extension 54 in theform of a rectangular planar sheet may be provided for removableattachment to and extension of the front edge of the support base 6 toallow user to rest a lower portion of their body against the extension54. This is illustrated in FIG. 10 in which a user U performs anexercise using a support base extension in which the user's lower backis supported by the support base extension 54, and in FIG. 11 in which auser U performs an exercise using a support base extension 54 in whichthe user's lower leg is supported by the support base extension 54.

Optionally and as may be seen in FIG. 8, the apparatus 1 may be providedwith one or more pairs of stabilizing legs 8. Each leg 8 is apertured atits upper end 8 a for attachment to its side support frame 30. The lowerend 8 b of each leg 8 may be chamfered at an angle that permits the endsurface of the leg to rest substantially flat on the surface on whichthe entire apparatus 1 rests. The vertical space between the top member50 of each side frame 30 or 32 and the first brace member 52 beneath itmay be provided with a vertically extending support web 52 a. The web 52a is provided with at least one vertically extending slotted aperture 52b. Each leg 8 extends angularly forwardly and downwardly from theslotted aperture 52 c to the support surface on which the apparatus 1rests. Each leg 8 is adjustably mounted to the web 52 a by the shaft ofa bolt (not shown) passing through the slot 52 b and an aperture 8 c inthe leg and held in place by the head of the bolt and a nut (not shown)threaded onto the bolt. Even more preferably, the apparatus 1 isprovided with two pairs of stabilizing legs, a front pair 8 aspreviously described, and a rear pair 9 that extends angularly rearwardand downwardly from a second, or rear, vertically extending slottedaperture 52 c to the support surface on which the apparatus 1 rests. Thelength of each slotted aperture 52 b and 52 c is sufficient to permitthe upper end of the associated leg 8 or 9 to be slid upwardly and theassociated leg to be rotated into a vertical orientation with the lowertip flush with the associated foot member 44 and the upper end to restat a position whose vertical height is less than or equal to the heightof the top of the top member 14 of the rear support frame 10.

In an alternative embodiment, the vertical support assembly comprises afreestanding vertical rear support frame 10 and a pair of vertical sidesupport frames hinged to the front side edges of the free-standing rearsupport frame 10 as aforesaid, and a second pair of vertical sidesupport frames 34 and 36 hinged to the rear side edges of thefree-standing rear support frame 10 (so that the rear side supportframes can be folded toward, and preferably into the vertical frame forportability and stowage.) This construction permits two users to use theapparatus 1 at the same time and, since they are facing each other, eachmay use their side, or station, independently of the other. In thisembodiment, the front station (as described with respect to the firstembodiment) and the rear station (which uses the same components as thefirst embodiment save for the vertical frame which is shared in common)are mirror image symmetrical with respect to each other. In thisembodiment, legs may not need to be provided.

In use, the user may use the apparatus 1 of FIGS. 1-6, and 8-12 or oneor both stations of the apparatus 1 of FIG. 7 for a number of exercises.In addition to the exercises that a user can perform using the fixedheight of the prior art ballet bar, the user can vary the height of thegripping bar 2 using the adjustment apertures on the vertical supports.More significantly, the user can perform exercises in which the user isseated on the base 6 support facing forward with their back restingagainst the back sheet 12 and one or both of their arms overhead and oneor both of their hands grasping the gripping bar 2. In this position,the user can apply force that is contained by the apparatus 1 and doesnot rely on attachment of the apparatus 1 to a wall or other support(other than the surface on which it rests) for stabilization or supportof the apparatus 1 and, in turn, the user. For example, the user may,with the buttocks supported by the support base 6 and positioned at adistance from the back sheet 12 and the back curved or cupped forward,grasp the gripping bar 2 from below and apply upward pushing force tothe bar 2, such as to raise the legs upwardly, and the force vectors ofthis exercise will be contained by the apparatus 1.

The apparatus 1 of the present invention, whether as the embodiment ofFIGS. 1-6 and 8-12 or as the embodiment of FIG. 7, can be folded forstowage or storage. In so folding the apparatus 1, the support base 6 isremoved from connection to the foot members 44 of a pair of side supportframes 30, 32, 34 or 36 by sliding the support base 6 forward until itsside channels 6 b are disengaged from the associated attachments on thefoot members 44. Contemporaneously, the gripping bar 2 is removed fromthe adjustment apertures 38, 40, or 44 on the associated side supportframes 30, 32, 34, or 36. Then, when the support base 6 and the grippingbar 2 have been disengaged from the side support frames, the sidesupport frames are rotated on their associated vertical pivots with thefront edge of each side support frame rotating inwardly and rearwardtoward the central portion of the freestanding rear support frame 10until the front edges are at least flush under the top member 14 of thesupport frame 10. Preferably, the support base 6 and the gripping bar 2are stowed in the space between the back sheet 12 and the side supportframes, 30 and 32, or 34 and 36 before the side support frames arecompletely folded and closed. The brace members 52 can act as grippinghandles in this folding operation and in handling the apparatus 1 forstorage and stowage.

As described herein, the various members are rectangular incross-section, except for the support base 6 and the back support sheet12 that are planar sheets.

It should be noted that various modifications may be made to theapparatus of the present invention without departing from the spirit andscope of the present invention, as noted in the following claims.

1. A portable exercise apparatus comprising: a. at least one removable,horizontal user gripping bar for supporting at least portion of theforce generated by a user during exercise; b. a vertical frame capableof supporting at least portion of the force generated by a user duringexercise comprising i. a free-standing vertical rear support frame andii. at least one pair of vertical side support frames pivotally attachedto said rear support frame; and c. at least one user support base havingopposing sides and opposing ends and capable of supporting at least aportion of the force generated by a user during exercise, each usergripping bar being removably attached to each of said pairs verticalside support frames; and said opposing sides of said user base beingremovably attached to each of said pairs of vertical side support framesand one end of each user base abutting said vertical rear support frame.2. A portable exercise apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein saidapparatus further comprises: at least one pair of stabilizing legs.
 3. Aportable exercise apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said apparatuscomprises first and second pairs of vertical side support frames andsaid rear support frame having a first and a second side, and said firstpair of vertical side support frames pivotally attached to said firstside of said rear support frame and said second pair of vertical sidesupport frames pivotally attached to said second side of said rearsupport frame.
 4. A portable exercise apparatus as recited in claim 1wherein said apparatus further comprises: each of said user gripping barbeing vertically adjustable at a plurality of discrete verticalpositions.
 5. A portable exercise apparatus as recited in claim 1wherein said apparatus further comprises: at least one support baseextension removably attached to said opposing end of said user base.